Electric switch



(No Model.) 7

E. J. BAGNALL. ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 463,311. Patented Nov. 17,1891.

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XYKQM gh I Inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC\.

ERNEST J. BAGNAIIL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

" ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,311, dated November 17, 1891.

Application filed August 3, 1891. Serial No. 401,532. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ERNEST J. BAGNALL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in High-Potential Switches, of which the following. is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to station feeder switches with fuse-metal cut-outs,andhas for its object to facilitate and expedite the replacing of the fuse when burned out and to adapt such a switch so as to make it practically a magazine-fuse switch.

It consists in the novel means for securing the fuse in circuit, hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference denote like parts in the several figures, I have illustrated my invention as adapted to a bipolar double-throw station-switch, which will serve to illustrate the novel features and principles of opera tion of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an ordinary bipolar doublethrow station-switch with my improved means for securing the fuse in circuit adapted thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

A is a base-plate of some insulating material, such as slate, to which the pivotal standardsB B, terminal spring-cli p standards 0 C, and the fuse spring-clip standards D D are secured. One end of the switch-levers E E is pivotally secured in the pivotal standards B B, respectively, about which pivotbearings the switch-levers maybe rotated, so as to make connection 011 either end of the switch, the spring-clip standards 0, O, D, and D being duplicated on the other end of the switch. To the switch-levers are secured or formed in the same the knife-edge pieces F F, adapted, when the levers are thrown to either side, to enter in between the jaws of the clip-standards G and D and O and D, respectively, and make electrical contact therewith, electrically connecting the clip-standards C with D and C with D. The free ends of the switch-levers E and E are connected together mechanically by the cross-bar G, of

some insulating material. To the cross-bar G is secured the switch-handle II.

Alongside the spring-clips D and D, respectively,are seeu red the rigid knee-shaped standards I I, with one of their members resting in close proximity to theinside jawof the clips.

IVhile the kneeshaped standards, as shown, may be adapted to be used in connection with the two-sided spring-clip standards ordinarily used in such switches, I prefer, as illustrated in Fig. 2, to form .a clip-standard with one side or jaw (see (Z,Fig. 2) rigid and the other side only (d, Fig. 2) adapted to be sprung by the knifeedge entering in between them, and to place the fuse-clamping knee-shaped standards, which are in this instance secured to casting which forms the clip-standard itself by a screw-bolt K, which is let through a slot formed in the knee-pieces I I, adapting the distance between the same and the clip-standards to be adjustable. The surface of the knee-shaped standards adjacent to the clips is grooved out'vertically to admit part of the body of the material of the fuse-wire L, which is nothing more than a piece of fuse-wire of the proper length bent into a U-shaped form, adapting its ends to be inserted in behind the f use-clamping kneeshaped standards on either side of the switch, spanning the distance between them.

The desired carrying capacity decides the size of the fuse-wire. With the size of the wire predetermined the knee-shaped standards I and I are set at such a distance from the spring-pieces (l as to freely'admit of the ends of the wire L being inserted in between them when the knife-edges F and F are removed from between the members d and d. of the clip-standards and to firmly secure the ends of the fuse-wire by pressure between the clip and knee-pieces when the knife-edges are brought down in between the two members of the clip-standard and then secured in this position by the screw-bolts K and K. The ends of fuse-wire being inserted in behind the kneepieces I and 1, respectively, in between them and the spring members d of the clip-standards D and D, the switch-levers are brought down by the handle H, forcing the knife-edges F and F in between the two members d and (Z' of the clip-standards D and D and in between the spring-jaws of the terminal clips 0 and G. The circuit will be as follows: Entering at C, to which the wire from one side of the dynamo is secured, through the knife-edge F to the clip-standard D,from the clip-standard D through the connecting fuse-wire L to the clip-standard D, from the clip D through the knife-edge F to the terminal clip standard C, to which the feeder-wire is attached.

The other end of the switch is a duplicate of that already described, so that when, as in case of troublegrounding, &c.-the fuse in use is burned out the circuit can be immediatel y reinstated by throwing the switch to the other side, the dynamo and feeder circuits being similarly connected, respectively, to the terminal clip-standards O and C on that end of the switch, the circuit being completed through the fuse L. The fuse L can then be replaced, as described, ready to be used when the fuse L isburned out.

Among the salient features of advantage of my improved means of securing the fusewire are that the device, as described, permits of a very convenient and quick removal or replacement of a fuse without any screwing or unscrewing of binding-posts, screws, &c., and the interposed spring-piece (1' permits the wedge shaped knife edges being brought down and positive contact made with the fuse wire without in any way injuring the fusewire or tending to reduce it in cross-section.

In many instances the trouble on a wire that is the cause of a fuse being-burned outis only temporary, and in such instances it is a great advantage to be able to immediately reinstate the circuit with a new fuse. This is effected by having the duplicate set of fuses, as described.

I claim- 1. The herein-described means for securing a metal fuse in circuit, consisting in a clipstandard composed of three members, two exterior rigid members and an interposed spring member, the intervening space between the spring member and one rigid member being normally such as to admit the end of the metal fuse and the intervening space between the remaining rigid member and the spring member being adapted to receive a removable block, which, when introduced therein, will abnormally press these two members apart, combined and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

2. The herein-described means for securing a metal fuse in circuit, consisting in a clipstandard composed of three members, two exterior rigid members and an interposed spring member, the intervening space between one rigid member being adjustably such as to normally admit the end of the metal fuse and the intt-n'vening space between the other rigid member and the spring member being adapted to receivea removable block, which, when introduced therein, will abnormally press these two members apart, combined and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

The herein-described means for securing a metal fuse in circuit, consisting in a knifeedge throw-switch, in combination with a rigid standard secured adjacent to one side of the spring-clip standard, between the members of which the knife-edge of the pivoted circuit-closer is adapted to enter, the said standard being secured in such a normal position as to readily admit the end of the metal fuse between it and the adjacent'side of the spring-clip standard, combined and operating substantially as described. and for the purposes specified.

1:. The herein-described means for securing a metal fuse in circuit, consisting in a knifeedge throw-switch, in combination ith a rigid standard secured adjacent to one side of the spring-clip standard, between the members of which the knife-edge of the pivoted circuit-closer is adapted to enter, the said standard being adjustably secured in such a normal position as to readily admit of the end of the metal fuse being inserted in between it and the adjacent side of the spring-clip standard, combined and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

5. In a knife-edge throw-over switch, a spring-clip standard composed of one rigid member and one spring member, in combination with a rigid standard secured adjacent the said spring member, a metal fuse, and the knife-edge of the pivoted circuit-closer, combined and operating substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 22d day of July, 1891.

ERNEST J. BAGNALL.

Witnesses:

A. RAMEL, W. M. BYRNE. 

